Training apparatus



Jan. 12, 1943. D. P. M DONALD 7 2,307,840

TRAINING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 1 w i K m I nuentoi Jan. 12, 1943. D. P. M cDoNALD TRAINING'APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ventm zwmzdz%aiimzaz Jan. 12, 1943. P, Ma DONALD 2,307,840

TRAINING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Attorney Patented Jan. 12, 1943 iTED' STATES P.

5. Claims.

The present-invention relates to new and useful.

improvements in training apparatus, particularlyfor student airplane pilots, and has for its-primaryobject to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for aiding thestudent in learn ing to coordinate his muscular movements with the observed conditions of flight, as reproducedby the controlled movement of a scene projected on a screen from a film. 1

Another very important object of the invention I2 include oppositely threaded end portions beis to provide a flight training apparatus of the tween which pulleys It are fixed on said posts. aforementioned character comprising -means It will be observed that one end'of the posts I2 closely simulating the controls. of an airplane for are threadedly connected to the carriage 5 and controlling the movement of the projected scene. the other end portions of said posts are threadedly Other-objects of the invention are to provide a connected to the platform I3. Also mounted on training apparatus of the character described the carriage 5- is a reversible electric motor l5. which will be comparatively simple in construc- A pulley I8 is splined on the armatureshaft I-T: tion, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable of the motor I5. An endless cable or belt I8 is in use, compact, and which may be manufactured wound around the pulley I6 and'trained around at low cost. the pulleys I4 for connecting the posts l2 to the All of the foregoing and still further objects and electric motor I5 for actuation in unison thereby, advantages of the invention will become apparent thus raising or lowering the platform I3; from a study of the following specification, taken Fixed on the carriage 5 and rising therefrom in connection with the accompanying drawings is a bracket I9. A suitable projector 20 is mount? wherein like characters of reference designate ed on the bracket I9. An end lens H is fixedly corresponding parts throughout the several views, secured through the medium of a bracket 22. on and wherein: the front end portion 6 of the carriage 5 forpro-,

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a-training appajecting a light beam through the tubular trun ratusconstructed in accordance with the present nion i to a screen (not shown) from the pro-H invention. jector 29. An opening 23 in the platform I3 Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof. accommodates the bracket I 9.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in front eleva- A plurality of vertical spools 24 are rotatably tion. mounted on the platform I3. An endless pano- Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View of the hand rama film 25 is trained around the spools24, said control. 'film passing through the beam of light between Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the hand the projector 20 and the lens 2|. A reversiblev control, taken at right angles to, Figure 4. electric motor 26 'on the platform I3 drivesthe Figure 6 is a diagrammatic View of the foot rear spool 2d through reduction gearsQ'I for mov control. ing the endlessfilm 25.

Referring nowto thedrawings in detail, it will A switch 28 controls the reversible electric mobe seen that the embodiment of the apparatus tor 26. The switch 28 comprises resistance conwhich has been illustrated comprises asupporting tacts 29 which are electrically connected to op-' structure which-is designated generally by referposite sides of the motor 26. The switch 28 furence-numeral I. The supporting structure I inther includes a foot rudder bar 39 which is pivcludes a base 2 of suitable material from which otally mounted" at an intermediate point and uprights 3 andfi rise. which has fixed thereon a movable contact 3I Mounted for swinging movement in a vertical which is engageable selectively with the stationplane between the uprights 3and 4 of the suparyresistance or rheostat contacts 29. Thus, porting structure I is a carriage 5. The front bycontrolling the reversible-motor 26, the speed: end portion 6 of the swinging carriage 5 has fixed and direction of movement of the endless film therein and projecting therefrom a tubular trun- 25 may be regulated as desired. nion I which is journaled in an opening provided In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, a hand therefor in the upright 3. The rear end portion 8 control unit for the electric motors I0 and I5 is of the swinging carriage 5 has fixed thereon a designated generally by reference numeral 32. trunnion 9 in the form of a stub shaft which is The unit 32 includes a stick 33 which is mounted journaled in and extends through'the rear upright 4 of the supporting structure I. A reversible electric motor I0 is mounted on the rear end' portion of the base 2. Reduction gears II connect the electric motorIll tothe trunnion 9 for actuating the swinging carriage 5'.

Posts 52 are mounted for vertical adjustment on the carriage 5. A platform i3 is mounted for vertical adjustment on the posts I2. The posts TENT otter in any suitable manner for universal swinging movement, as at 34. A plate 35 of insulating material has one end pivotally connected at 36 to the lower portion of the stick 33. A link 31 supports the other end of the plate 35 for swinging movement with the stick 33 when said stick is swung laterally. In the embodiment shown, a hinge 38 to which the lower end of the link 31 is connected permits swinging movement of the plate 35 with the stick 33 when said stick is swung forwardly and rearwardly. Resistances or rheostats 40 are mounted on the plate 35.

A movable contact 4| is mounted on the plate the illusion of motion. Thus, the apparatus more closely resembles the actual conditions of flight wherein the pilots center of balance is maintained in a stationary position in relation to the plane due to the centrifugal force acting on him.

It is believed that the many advantages of a flight training apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of said apparatus is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Whatis claimed is:

1. A 'training'apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a supporting the motor l0. Thus, a switch 43 is provided for controlling the electric motor ID.

The unit 32'further comprises a switch 44 for controlling the electric motor 15. The switch 44 is substantially similar to the switch 43 with the exception that it is arranged and connected to the stick 33 for actuation thereby when said stick is swung forwardly and rearwardly. The rheostats 45 of the switch 44 are, electrically connected to the opposite sides of themotor i5.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the projector in operation, the motor 26 is actuated through the medium of the foot controlled switch 28 for moving the endless film 25. Of course, the panorama on the film is projected onto the hereinbefore mentioned screen. By actuating the rudder bar 3B in either direction with the feet, thus engaging the swinging contact 3| with either of the rheostats 29, the speed and direction of the reversible electric motor 26 may be regulated as desired for moving the endless film 25 in either direction at any suitable speed. This conveys to the student or other observer the visual effect of a right or left turn. If the stick 33 is moved forwardly the electric motor I5 is actuated, through the switch 44, in a direction to raise the platform l3 with the film 25 thereon relative to the projector 20 and the lens 2!. In

' from saidprojecting means on a screen.

this manner the horizon of the scene in the,

motor I0 swings the carriage 5 with the platform I3 and the film 25 thereon for tilting the picture on the screen. The construction, combination and arrangement is such that any desired effect, or combinations of effects, may be had.

An advantage of the apparatus over devices for, a generally similar purpose in use at present is that at no time is it necessary to shift the students center of balance in. order to produce 3. A training apparatusof the character describedpc'omprising, in combination, a supporting structure, a picture projector mounted on the supporting structure, an endless picture film movably mounted on the supporting structure and associated with the projector, means for actuating the film in opposite directions and for controlling the speed of movement thereof,

means for raising and lowering the film relative to the projector, and means for swinging the film and the projector in unison in a vertical plane for tilting the picture from said film relative to the screen.

4. A training apparatus of the character described comprising a supporting structure, a

cradle mounted. for swinging movement in a vertical plane on said supporting structure,

means for swinging the cradle in opposite directions, a platform mountedon the carriage for adjustment toward and away from said carriage, means for adjusting the platform relative to the carriage, a projector mounted on the car- -riage, and endless picture film mounted on the platform and associated with the projector, and means for moving the film in opposite directions.

5. A training apparatus of the character described comprising a support, a plurality of posts threadedly mounted for vertical adjustment on said support, a platform threadedly mountedon said posts, means for rotating the posts in unison for adjusting the platform toward or away from the support, a picture projector mounted on the support, an endless picture film mounted on the platform and associated with the projector, and means on the platform for actuating the film in opposite directions.

DONALD P. MACDONALD. 

